REPORT OF THE COURT OF ENQUIRY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 27 September 1918, Page 5

REPORT OF THE COURT OF ENQUIRY.

BY THLEGRAFH—PRRSg AoSOCHTION,

WELLINGTON, Sept 26 The Minister of Defenc 3 has received L rT fS? °Z urt of Iniuiry which has been held an England regarding the epidemic on/the troopship on which the 40th Reinforcements were taken to .England The personnel of the Court had not been communicated to the Minister. The Minister gave to the press the report, as follows, the portions in brackets being merely explananot pajt of the report • The disease was reported to be purulent bronchitis. The infection occurred at ITI [lasfc port of call heiore ship reached destination, and a port at which troops did not land]. The high mortality was caused by bad ventilation through the enforced closing of the ports. [Ports are closed by Admiralty order, for the sake of safety from submarines.]

"There are differences of opinion in the expert evidence as to the effectivnese of the inhalation chamber, but the Court considers it should have "been -jThe steps taken to COPe with^ *fe epidemic were successful, In view of the fact that it was under complete control within ten days. I Evidence of experts"was given to the effect that all was done that could have been done. The supply of drugs and stimulants was ample for normal con- j ditions, but provision should be made tor a, great supply in future in readi- I nef s for outbreaks of epidemics. j Sister Maxfield and the nurses did excellent work, but the medical orderlies were apparently inefficient. The master of the S W Colonel Allen [not the Minister], the medical officers, nurses and men who volunteered as medical orderlies rendered excellent service; . •■■.. .

■ '£ n fu*'ir-e tn« hammocks should be eighteen inches apart. Vaccination for smallpox should be carried out before embarkation. The inhalation chambe? should be^ised after leaving every port of call. If mixed catarrhal vaccine inoculation is given before embarkation, the resisting power of the men will be increased. Supplies of anti-strepto coccw serum should be available on *«ar<t all transports—more than one strain if possible—and should be renewed in England and New Zealand ihe cases treated here are certified"b> experts to resemble those affcted by the epidemic at Sling Camp early this year." ■ ;